How the French Think by Sudhir Hazareesingh
Explores the French commitment to rationalism and ideology, their belief in the State, their cult of heroes and their contempt for materialism. This book describes their fetishes, their fondness for general notions, their current fixations with the nation and collective memory, their messianic instincts and their devotion to universalism.
It is unusual to laugh aloud when reading a history of ideas, but I did so more than once when reading How the French ThinkIts sweep is thrilling and its expositions lucid, but it carries its learning lightly and is written with an astringent wit. Everyone interested in France and the French will enjoy and learn from this book. * Robert Tombs, Professor of French History, Cambridge University *
Stendhal wrote that a novel was "un miroir qu'on promène le long d'un chemin." And no better mirror on the wandering path of French culture of yesterday and today could be found than this wise and gentle book, as learned as it is engaging. Péguy worried about what God would have to think about if the French were not there to amuse and inform him. Now we know why this might still be so. -- Patrice Higonnet, Professor of French History, Harvard University
Stendhal wrote that a novel was "un miroir qu'on promène le long d'un chemin." And no better mirror on the wandering path of French culture of yesterday and today could be found than this wise and gentle book, as learned as it is engaging. Péguy worried about what God would have to think about if the French were not there to amuse and inform him. Now we know why this might still be so. -- Patrice Higonnet, Professor of French History, Harvard University
Sudhir Hazareesingh was born in Mauritius. He is a Fellow of the British Academy and has been a Fellow and Tutor in Politics at Balliol College, Oxford, since 1990. Among his books are The Legend of Napoleon (Granta, 2004) and Le Mythe Gaullien (Gallimard, 2010). He won the Prix du Mémorial d'Ajaccio and the Prix de la Fondation Napoléon for the first of these, and a Prix d'Histoire du Sénat for the second.
| SKU | Unavailable |
| ISBN 13 | 9781846146022 |
| ISBN 10 | 184614602X |
| Title | How the French Think |
| Author | Sudhir Hazareesingh |
| Condition | Unavailable |
| Binding Type | Hardback |
| Publisher | Penguin Books Ltd |
| Year published | 2015-06-25 |
| Number of pages | 448 |
| Cover note | Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary. |
| Note | Unavailable |